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This month's Goanet operations sponsored by an Anonymous Donor ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STATEMENT BY SHRI EDUARDO FALEIRO, COMMISSIONER FOR NRI AFFAIRS AT HIS PRESS BRIEFING ON APRIL 17, 2007. A major concern of non-resident Goans is the security of their property here whilst they work abroad. For protection of these properties as well as to safeguard other legitimate interests of NRGs we have recommended to the State Government legislative as well as administrative measures. - The Goa, Daman and Diu (Lease, Rent, Eviction) Control Act, 1968 provides for summary trial to recover possession when the owner of the premises is a member of the Armed Forces or an employee of the Central Government subject to transfer to different parts of the country. We have proposed that the benefit of such summary trials should be extended to non-resident Goans. The Bill proposed by us is entitled. The Goa Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Amendment Bill, 2007 and I do hope that it is passed in the next session of the Legislative Assembly. Similar legislation has been upheld by the Supreme Court in the case of some other States. - Regarding administrative action to protect properties and to safeguard other legitimate interests of the NRGs we have recommended to the State Government that District Committees headed by the respective District Collector be constituted in North Goa as well as in South Goa. Among the members of these Committees will be the Superintendent of Police, the Director of Municipal Administration, the Director of Panchayats and 2 NRGs or their local representatives. The function of these Committees will be "inter alia" to provide adequate safeguards to NRG properties and to ensure redressal of other legitimate grievances. - We are aware that some recruitment agencies cheat individuals on the pretext of providing them with jobs abroad. In the year 2005 complaints were filed with the local Police against Zarina Travel Services, Gemini Travels Service and Nexus India Inc. Last month a complaint was filed against some individuals claiming to represent "Guirim Good Placement Abroad". These are a few among several cases filed in the Police on this subject. I have written to the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi as well as to the Protector General of Emigrants, New Delhi requesting them to, after due inquiry, withdraw the license granted to unscrupulous agencies and to impose on them other penalties under the Emigration Act. - Last February I was in Lisbon to participate in the First International Congress on Lusofonia. During this visit I attended a few other meetings organized by our Embassy as well as by some leading Goan personalities in that country. One such meeting was held at "Casa de Goa", the headquarters of the Goan community in Portugal. The "Casa de Goa" is located in a heritage building of the XVII Century, fully renovated and consists of several halls, a library, a reading room, a Goan restaurant, a small museum and gardens. The premises belong to the Municipal Corporation of Lisbon and have been let out free of charge to the Goan community. The President of the Casa de Goa, Prof. Narana Coissoro, a former Deputy Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament and presently the President of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Lisbon requested me to use my good offices so that a Chair in Indian Studies is created at the Institute. Prof. Narana Coissoro pointed out that China, a rival of India in the emerging global order, has the Institute Confucius in Portugal, that the U.K. has the British Council, Germany, the Goethe Institute and France, the Alliance Francaise but there is no similar institution from India there. I have written to the Prime Minister in this regard so that we have a cultural presence of India in Portugal at an early date. During my stay in Lisbon I also had fruitful meetings at the Radha Krishna Temple, the main hindu temple in Portugal, and at the Aga Khan Foundation. (ends)